Another Short Story Study from Ron Johnson

 

More Good Short Fiction to Read and Discuss

presented by Ron Johnson

DATE & TIME: Every Friday beginning November 7^th , from 10:00 AM  until 11:30

 

Ron Johnson is the course leader. Before he became a pastor, Ron taught English and American literature in high school and college. He holds several degrees: M.Div, MA in teaching, and a Doctorate in English and American literature.

This course will focus on five stories from Unaccustomed Earth,  the second collection by Indian-American writer Jhumpa Lahiri.  Lahiri was born in London but moved with her parents to the United States when she was three. “ Wikepedia” says this about the author and her work:

The stories address sensitive dilemmas in the lives of Indians or Indian immigrants, with themes such as marital difficulties, the bereavement over a stillborn child, and the disconnection between first and second generation United States immigrants. Lahiri later wrote, "When I first started writing I was not conscious that my subject was the Indian-American experience. What drew me to my craft was the desire to force the two worlds I occupied to mingle on the page as I was not brave enough, or mature enough, to allow in life."

I think you will discover that, though the subject matter of most of the stories is “the Indian-American experience,” their themes are universal.  This is the second course offered on Lahiri’s stories.  I think I can say, with confidence, that most if not all of the participants in the first group found her stories to be enjoyable, interesting and meaningful. Some readers of both of Lahiri’s collections feel that the second is even better than the first.

The course will meet on six successive Fridays, beginning November 7^th , from 10:00 AM  until 11:30.  Its vitality depends upon each member coming to the weekly meetings having read and thought about the particular story for the day and being prepared to discuss it with one another.  Each week a group of discussion-starter questions will be emailed to each participant. In order to facilitate discussion, the class will have a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 15 persons. Jan Rosemergy has graciously offered to host this group at her home: 284 Yonside Drive.

REGISTRATION: Contact Ron Johnson: email-ronjohnson25@gmail.com; call: 931-371-1781. First Come; First Serve; but in the past Ron has run repeats; so no one will lost out. 

Course charge: $10 for ULLI members; $20 for non-members. Checks should be made out to ULLI.  (Become a member:$50 annually with checks mailed to ULLI, PO Box 621, Pleasant Hill 38578.) Checks for this course can be mailed to ULLI at the above PO Box. One may also give the course fee directly to Ron at the first class. As always donations are greatly appreciated.

The Next Short Course from ULLI

Uplands Lifelong Learning Institute is pleased to present our next short course:

Whittling on the Land:

Historical Perspectives on Local and Regional Folk Art

Presenter: Jan Laude

Dates & Time: Tuesday’s 10:00-11:15, October 7, 14, 28, and 9:00-11:30 October 21. Note that these are new dates for the course originally scheduled for spring.

Location: Pleasant Hill Community Church, Room 1.

Note: Class size limited to 10. Registration is first come, first served.

Content: Week 1 explores these questions: What is Folklore? and What is Folk Art? Week 2

examines local folk art wooden doll traditions with examples from the Pioneer Museum and

corresponding regional traditions from the novel The Dollmaker by Harriette Simpson Arnow

(1954). In week 3 the movie “The Dollmaker” will be shown. The final week will be a discussion

of insights gained about the Folk Art wooden doll traditions in the local and regional area.

Note: Reading The Dollmaker, is not required, however, it would add to your understanding

and enjoyment of the course.

Presenter: Jan Laude has a PhD from Indiana University with majors in Folklore and American Studies and a minor in Women’s Studies and an MA in Folk Studies from Western Kentucky University. Jan also has a BS from Carnegie Mellon University. Jan is looking forward to sharing her knowledge of, passion for, and delight in Folklore.

To Register: Send your request to register with your check payable to ULLI and your email

address to ULLI Registrar PO Box 621 Pleasant Hill TN 38578. You may also email

ullipleasanthill@gmail.com requesting registration. You will receive confirmation by email.

I

Course charge: $10 for ULLI members; $20 for non-members. Become a member:

$50 annually with checks mailed to ULLI Registrar PO Box 621 Pleasant Hill TN 38578.

The Next Program from ULLI

 Uplands Lifelong Learning Institute is pleased to share:

Carbon Sequestration

Presenter: Jason De Koff, PhD

Friday, September 26. 

Potluck at 5:30 pm, Program at 6:15 pm.

Adshead Hall, Fletcher Assisted Living, Pleasant Hill

Carbon sequestration is the process of removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it, whether in biological geologic pools. It is one means being pursued to responding to global climate change.

Presenter Jason De Koff has been on the faculty of Tennessee State University since 2010. He has a PhD in Agronomy from Purdue University and an MS in Soil and Water Sciences from the University of California at Riverside. He is currently working on developing an Extension and research program based around bioenergy crop production with specific interests in improving switchgrass yields and quality. 

This will be an ULLI Potluck, so remember to bring your own tableware and utensils. Of course, you are welcome to forego the potluck and come for the presentation.

Become a member of Uplands Lifelong Learning Institute: Your membership is vital to supporting and continuing these varied and interesting programs. $50 annually with checks mailed to ULLI P O Box 621, Pleasant Hill 38578.  As always donations to ULLI are greatly appreciated. 

Consider Volunteering with ULLI. Our events require some help with set up and take down. If you would be willing to volunteer, contact ULLI at ullipleasanthill@gmail.com.

D-Day Remembrance with ULLI

 

Uplands Lifelong Learning Institute is pleased to share:

D-Day: Fifty Years Later"

Keith Brown

Adjunct Professor, Department of History, Tennessee Tech University; and

Teacher, White County High School

7:00 pm, Thursday, June 26

Pleasant Hill Community House

48 Church Drive, Pleasant Hill, TN

Class presenter, Keith Brown, was selected to be a member of the University of Tennessee’s Normandy Scholars Program in the Spring and Summer of 1994.  As part of the program, he spent a month residing in Caen, France and conducted primary research on the Einsatzgruppen units of the Nazi Party’s Waffen SS Division.  While in France, he met Holocaust survivors, pilots from the 8^th Air Force, Free French fighters, former members of the Waffen SS, and a veteran of The American 2nd Rangers Battalion.  Mr. Brown also saw firsthand how France commemorated the 50^th Anniversary of both D – Day and the Normandy Campaign.

Become a member of Uplands Lifelong Learning Institute: Your membership is vital to supporting and continuing these varied and interesting programs. $50 annually with checks mailed to ULLI P O Box 621, Pleasant Hill 38578.  As always donations to ULLI are greatly appreciated. 

Consider Volunteering with ULLI. Our events require some help with set up and take down. If you would be willing to volunteer, contact ULLI at ullipleasanthill@gmail.com.

Another Video Series from ULLI

 

Uplands Lifelong Learning Institute is pleased to offer another video series:

“Dopesick”

The Video Series

Presenter: Sabina Coronado and ULLI

Dates &Time: Tuesdays, March 25, April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 from  3:00 -5:00 pm.

Location: The Art Space, Heritage Hall, in Uplands VIllage

This video series shines a light on the motivations and creation of the opioid epidemic. A docudrama based in a small Virginia coal mining town, a well meaning doctor starts to prescribe the “miracle” drug, OxyContin, after a hard sell by a pharmaceutical representative, driven by goals and disinformation cloaked in medical jargon. The roles of the Sackler family dynamics and the profits made from pushing OxyContin, are examined, as well as the fast and strong addiction to the drug. Michael Keaton and Sissy Spacek are among a strong cast that brings the pervasive tragedy to life, and deliver a warning to the audience.

The opioid epidemic and addiction among seniors are ongoing issues, especially in Tennessee. This docudrama will allow opportunities to reflect on these important regional and national concerns.

Registration is requested:  You may email ullipleasanthill@gmail.com requesting registration. You may also send your request to register to ULLI and your email address to ULLI Registrar PO Box 621 Pleasant Hill TN 38578. You will receive confirmation by email. 

There is no charge. Please consider membership. To become a member: $50 annually with checks mailed to ULLI PO Box 621, Pleasant Hill 38578.). As always donations are appreciated.

A Video Series Co-sponsored with HCCA

 

Uplands Lifelong Learning Institute is pleased to co-sponsor a video series:

“Appalachia: A History of Mountains and People”

A Documentary Series

Presenter: Heritage Community Cultural Art (HCCA)

Dates &Time: Saturdays, February 15, 22, March 1, 8

Location: The Art Space, Heritage Hall, in Uplands VIllage

Heritage Community Cultural Art (HCCA) and Uplands Lifelong Learning Institute

(ULLI) are co-sponsoring a showing of the acclaimed 4-part PBS documentary series

titled “Appalachia: A History of Mountains and People.” This program is free and is

being held in the new Art Space room in Heritage.

The series will run on four consecutive Saturdays, beginning on Feb. 15. For each of the

four parts, there will be two showings, from 1:30 – 2:30 pm and again from 3 – 4 pm:

Feb. 15 – Time and Terrain

Feb. 22 – New Green World

March 1 – A Mountain Revolution

March 8 – Power and Place

Narrated by Sissy Spacek, the program was created and masterfully filmed by TN native

Ross Spears. This documentary has been acclaimed as “the first environmental history

series ever made.” It’s an informative and affirmative work that ties our brief time here

with the timeless evolution of this area and its people.

Registration is not required. Please note two showings on each date.

There is no charge. Please consider membership. To become a member: $50 annually with checks mailed to ULLI PO Box 621, Pleasant Hill 38578.). As always donations are appreciated.

Whittling on the Land: The Next Short Course from ULLI

 

Uplands Lifelong Learning Institute is pleased to present our next short course:

Whittling on the Land:

Historical Perspectives on Local and Regional Folk Art

Presenter: Jan Laude

Dates &Time: Monday’s 1:00-2:15 March  3, 10, 24 and 1:00-3:00 March 17 

Location: Pleasant Hill Community House 

Note: Class size limited to 15. Registration is first come, first served.

Content: Week 1 explores these questions: What is Folklore? and What is Folk Art? Week 2 examines local folk art wooden doll traditions with examples from the Pioneer Museum and corresponding regional traditions from the novel The Dollmaker by Harriette Simpson Arnow (1954). In week 3 the movie “The Dollmaker” will be shown. The final week will be a discussion of insights gained about the Folk Art wooden doll traditions in the local and regional area. Note: Reading The Dollmaker, is not required, however, it would add to your understanding and enjoyment of the course. This classic Appalachian work of literature is approximately 600 pages long.

Presenter: Jan Laude’s academic background in Folklore includes an MA in Folk Studies from Western Kentucky University and a PHD from Indiana University with a double major in Folklore and American Studies and a minor in Women’s Studies. Jan also has a Bachelor of Science degree from Carnegie Mellon University.  While working as a folklorist, Jan explored numerous avenues of American women’s Folklore via teaching, research and writing. Jan is looking forward to sharing her knowledge of, passion for and delight in Folklore with all class members.

To Register:  Send your request to register with your check payable to ULLI and your email address to ULLI Registrar PO Box 621 Pleasant Hill TN 38578. You may also email ullipleasanthill@gmail.com requesting registration. You will receive confirmation by email.  

Course charge: $10 for ULLI members; $20 for non-members.  Become a member: $50 annually with checks mailed to ULLI PO Box 621, Pleasant Hill 38578.). As always donations are appreciated.